Future Gaming gave ₹154 crores to YSRCP while TDP got ₹40 crores from Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited, a firm rumoured to be close to YSRCP.
Representational image.
Coimbatore-based Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited has emerged as the top donor to political parties in Andhra Pradesh. The latest data by the Election Commission of India on Thursday, 21 March makes startling revelations.
Controversial ‘Lottery King’ Santiago Martin-owned Future Gaming donated ₹154 crore to the ruling YSRCP through the now-banned electoral bonds. The party headed by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy redeemed bonds to the tune of ₹337 crore in total.
The Opposition TDP received electoral bonds worth ₹218.88 crore. Bonds worth ₹40 crore was donated by Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited alone. Interestingly, TDP had accused the company of being run by the YSRCP through “benamis”.
The largest contributor to the Jana Sena Party was Hyderabad-based construction major Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL). The firm’s contribution amounted to ₹14 crore of the JSP’s total ₹21 crore.
JSP is an ally of BJP in Andhra Pradesh. Incidentally, MEIL is also the largest contributor to BJP through electoral bonds.
The YSRCP encashed bonds worth ₹337 crore from 52 purchasers, SBI data published by ECI shows.
Besides Santiago Martin’s firm, MEIL with ₹37 crore, RAMCO Cements (₹24 crore), and Greenko (₹10 crore) donated generously to YSRCP.
Future Gaming bought the bonds in three instalments: Bonds worth ₹89 crore on 7 December 2020, ₹60 crore on 19 April 2021, and ₹5 crore on 13 October 2022. Interestingly, betting is banned in Andhra Pradesh.
Starting from Tamil Nadu, ‘Lottery Martin’ expanded operations to Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra. He has been accused of lottery scams in these states by police and the CBI.
Construction conglomerate MEIL was awarded the Polavaram contract after Jagan assumed power in 2019.
RAMCO, a Chennai based firm, purchased bonds worth ₹54 crore, donating ₹25 crore to the BJP, ₹24 crore to the YSRCP, and ₹5 crore to TDP from 10 October 2022 to 15 November 2023. The purchase of bonds came after it commissioned the ₹2,500 crore unit at Kalwatala village in Kolimigundla mandal of Nandyala district on 28 September 2022.
Greenko, a green energy company, purchased bonds worth ₹35 crore through its 12 subsidiaries between 12 April and 15 November 2022, distributing ₹10 crore to the YSRCP, ₹13 crore to the BJP, and ₹12 crore to the BRS in Telangana.
The TDP had approved Greenko’s integrated green power project in Kurnool. However, after the YSRCP assumed power, it flagged the project, Andhra’s largest integrated renewable energy project. It prompted the central government to pressure the state government to honour previous agreements.
Jagan later inaugurated the project on 17 May 2022.
The TDP secured bonds worth ₹218.88 crore, and the poll panel has revealed the details of the purchasers who donated ₹211.58 crore.
MEIL donated ₹53 crore to the TDP between 31 January 2023 and 16 January 2024. Of the total amount, ₹20 crore came from MEIL and the remaining from its subsidiaries, including ₹28 crore from Western UP Power Transmission Company Limited and ₹5 crore from SEPC Power Private Limited.
Surprisingly, Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited donated ₹40 crore on 11 January 2024. This came a month before the Income Tax Department searched the firm.
Established in 1994 in Kadapa, Shirdi Sai Electricals is accused of gaining prominence after the YSRCP government had come to power.
The company reportedly amassed projects worth ₹1.2 lakh crore over the past four years.
Meanwhile, the TDP also received at least ₹42 crore from pharma companies. Dr. Reddy Labs contributing ₹13 crore, Bharath Biotech ₹10 crore, Natco Pharmacy ₹14 crore, Chiron Behring Vaccines Pvt Ltd ₹5 crore, and Aurobindo Pharma Limited ₹2.5 crore to TDP.
MEIL purchased JSP bonds of ₹4 crore directly, and another for ₹10 crore through Western UP Power Transmission Company Limited.
(Edited by Manju Babu)
Apr 29, 2024
Apr 29, 2024
Apr 29, 2024
Apr 28, 2024
Apr 28, 2024
Apr 28, 2024
